Compact disc storage case

ABSTRACT

The invention is a slim, rigid, transparent, one-piece compact disc storage case with two holes for mounting it in a three-ring type binder and two slots for mounting it onto a card index rail, such as those found on a desk-top holder manufactured by the Rolodex Corporation. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] This invention pertains generally to a compact disc storage case,and more particularly, to a slim, storable, one-piece compact discstorage case.

[0003] 2. Background Information

[0004] The past decade has witnessed the emergence of the compact discas a preferred data storage medium in various commercial industries. Themovie industry uses DVD's to store movies, the music industry usescompact discs to store and play musical recordings, the video gameindustry uses compact discs to store and play video games, and thecomputer industry uses compact discs to store and use softwareapplications.

[0005] Many compact disc music albums, software applications and moviesare recorded on multiple compact discs. Multiple compact discapplications must be packaged in storable and sort able fashion.

[0006] Most compact discs are packaged and sold in a plastic case,commonly referred to as a “jewel box”. The typical jewel box is brittleand breaks easily when mishandled or dropped on a hard surface. Oncebroken, the jewel boxes are incapable of adequately protecting theenclosed compact disc, and thus the compact disc will be exposed todust, debris or damage. Further, the large size and weight of the jewelbox encased compact disc makes it difficult for the user to transportand store many compact discs.

[0007] Many prior art multi-compact disc storage devices have beendeveloped. These devices generally have a plurality of individualcompact disc holders contained within a compact disc holder storagecase. The individual compact disc holders vary from a rigid case to aflexible sleeve. Some type of attachment or separation means is employedto differentiate and sort the compact disc holders within the compactdisc holder storage case. Spiral bound compact disc holders or compactdisc holder slots within the compact disc holder storage device are someof the attachment and separation means that have been developed. Aspecially shaped and sized compact disc holder storage case holds thestored compact disc holders.

[0008] The size, shape and appearance of the particularly conceivedcompact disc holder storage cases limit their appeal. The compact discholder only functions within the storage device specifically designed tohold it. The fixed number of compact disc holders of the particularcompact disc holder storage case inflexibly limits the user. The compactdisc holder storage case often has no means to expand or reduce thenumber of compact disc holders that it contains. These storage devicesare often relatively expensive, bulky, difficult to use and do not allowthe user to store other forms of information such as paper or indexcards with the compact disc holders.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention is a slim, rigid, transparent, one-piece compactdisc storage case with two holes for mounting it in a three-ring typebinder and two slots for mounting it onto a card index rail. The cardindex rail is the type found on a desktop holder such as thosemanufactured by the Rolodex Corporation.

[0010] The user of the compact disc storage case invention can store itin a readily available three ring binder or attach it onto a card indexrail. The three-ring binder is readily available in many shapes sizesand colors. The same is true for the desktop card index system.Therefore, a user does not have to purchase an odd sized, expensivestorage case with its peculiar compact disc holders, but instead use thecompact disc storage case invention and store it in a readily availablebinder or card index file. This gives the user a great deal offlexibility. It also saves the user money because instead of purchasingan expensive compact disc holder storage case system the user purchasesonly the compact disc storage case invention. The user decides whattype, size, shape and appearance binder or card index file satisfies itsneeds. The compact disc storage case invention functions within eitherstorage device. There is no need for a specifically designed compactdisc holder storage case with its specially shaped compact disc holders.The user decides the limit of the number of compact disc holders withinof the particular storage case. The user can store a mixture of otherforms of information with the compact discs such as paper or indexcards.

[0011] The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and importantfeatures of the present invention. Additional features of the presentinvention will be described hereinafter, which form the subject of theclaims. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that thedisclosed specific embodiment might be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures and methods for carrying out thesame purposes of the present invention. It also should be realized bythose skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions and methodsdo not depart from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forthin the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing drawings that are for illustrative purposes only:

[0013]FIG. 1 is an orthogonal view of an open compact disc storage case;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a closed compact disc storage case;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a closed compact disc storagecase;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an open compact disc storage case;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of an open compact disc storagecase; and

[0018]FIG. 6 is an enlarged orthogonal view of the storage case centerattachment button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The invention is a compact disc storage case 10. The compact discstorage case 10 includes an upper lid 18 hingeably attached to a lowerlid 22. The upper lid 18 is generally round with a perimeter edge 38.

[0020] A retaining lip 78 protrudes down from the perimeter edge 38 ofthe upper lid 18. The retaining lip 78 has an inner diameter 90 greaterthan the outer diameter of a conventional 11.9 cm diameter compact disc.

[0021] The lower lid 22 has a generally rectangular shape. A CD recess54 is centrally located in the lower lid 22. The CD recess 54 has adepth 62 and an inner diameter 58 greater than the thickness and outerdiameter 94 of the upper lid 18, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0022] A raised area 66 is centrally located in the CD recess 54, asshown in FIG. 6. The raised area 66 stands taller above the lower lid 22than the thickness of a conventional compact disc. The raised area 66has a circular upper perimeter edge 67 and a circular lower perimeter68. The circular lower perimeter 68 has an outer diameter less than theinner diameter of the center hole of a conventional compact disc. Theraised area 66 has a flat upper surface 69. A plurality of radial slots71 is cut through the raised area 66, the circular upper perimeter edge67, the circular lower perimeter 68 and into the CD recess 54. Aplurality of tangential slots 72 is located in the CD recess 54 alongthe lower circular perimeter 68. The radial slots 71 and the tangentialslots 72 are rotationally 45 degrees out of phase to each other relativeto the centerline 73 of the raised area 66.

[0023] A segmented lip 86 is cantilevered from the circular upperperimeter edge 67. The outer diameter of the lip 86 is smaller than thediameter of the central hole of a conventional compact disc. The lip 86retains the compact disc against the lower lid 22.

[0024] Two removal recesses 102 are located on the lower lid 22 tooverlap the CD recess 54. Each removal recess 102 is sized and shaped tofacilitate access to grip a portion of the edge of a stored compact discto facilitate its removal.

[0025] The lower lid 22 has a pair of “D” shaped holes 106. Both “D”shaped holes 106 are located along the same edge. Each “D” shaped hole106 is orientated symmetrically opposite the other the “D” shaped hole106. Both “D” shaped holes 106 are located outside of the CD recess 54.The plurality of “D” shaped holes 106 are sized and located to mate thelower lid 22 to a ringed binder.

[0026] The lower lid 22 has a pair of slots 112, as shown in FIG. 1.Each slot 112 is located along the same edge as both the “D” shapedholes 106. Each slot 112 is orientated symmetrically opposite the otherthe slot 112. Each slot 112 is located adjacent, but outboard from the“D” shaped hole 106. Each slot 112 is located outside of the CD recess54. Each slot 112 has a hooked aperture 107 and a narrowed offsetopening 108 to the edge. The opening 108 and the aperture 107 are sizedand shaped to attach onto a card index rail, such as those found on adesktop holder manufactured by the Rolodex Corporation. Each slot 112 islocated to mate the lower lid 22 to a pair of card index rails.

[0027] A tab 126 is cantilevered radially outboard from the perimeteredge 38 of the upper lid 18. The tab 126 has a first end 134 and asecond end 138. A dome-shaped detent protrudes from the first end 134and the second end 138 of the tab 126.

[0028] A tab receiver 130 is located in the lower lid 22 outside of theCD recess 54. The tab receiver 130 has two detent receptacles.

[0029] The upper lid 18 is hingeably attached to the lower lid 22. Theupper lid 18, hinge 34 and the lower lid 22 are fabricated from a singlepiece of transparent material.

[0030] The upper lid 18 is snap-locked to the lower lid 22 when thedome-shaped detents are aligned into said detent receptacles. The uppersurface 26 of the upper lid 18 is then coplanar with the upper surface42 of the lower lid 22. A CD retention cavity is defined when the lidsare snap-locked together.

[0031] The present disclosure includes that contained in the presentclaims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although thisinvention has been described in its preferred forms with a certaindegree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure ofthe preferred forms has been made only by way of example and numerouschanges in the details of construction and combination and arrangementof parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should bedetermined not only by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appendedclaims and their legal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A compact disc storage case comprising: an upperlid, said upper lid being rigid with a generally round perimeter edge; aretaining lip, said retaining lip protruding down from said perimeteredge of said upper lid, said retaining lip having an inner diametergreater than the outer diameter of a conventional compact disc; a lowerlid, said lower lid being rigid and having a generally rectangularshape; a CD recess, said CD recess being centrally located in said lowerlid, said CD recess having a depth and an inner diameter greater thanthe thickness and outer diameter of said upper lid, respectively; araised area, said raised area being centrally located in said CD recess,said raised area being taller above the lower lid than the thickness ofa compact disc, said raised area having a circular upper perimeter edgeand a circular lower perimeter, said circular lower perimeter having anouter diameter less than the inner diameter of the center hole of aconventional compact disc, said raised area having a flat upper surface,a plurality of radial slots cut through said raised area, said circularupper perimeter edge, said circular lower perimeter and into said CDrecess, a plurality of tangential slots being located in said CD recessalong said lower circular perimeter, said radial slots and saidtangential slots being rotationally 45 degrees out of phase to eachother relative to the centerline of said raised area; a segmented lipbeing cantilevered from said circular upper perimeter edge, the outerdiameter of said lip being smaller than the diameter of the central holeof a conventional compact disc, said lip retains the compact discagainst said lower lid; two removal recesses being located on said lowerlid to overlap said CD recess, each said removal recess being sized andshaped to facilitate access to grip a portion of the edge of a storedcompact disc to facilitate its removal; two “D” shaped holes, each said“D” shaped holes being through said lower lid, both said “D” shapedholes being located along the same edge, each said “D” shaped hole beingorientated symmetrically opposite the other said “D” shaped hole, bothsaid “D” shaped holes being located outside of said CD recess, saidplurality of “D” shaped holes being sized and located to mate said lowerlid to a ringed binder; two slots, each said slot being through saidlower lid, each said slot being located along the same edge as both said“D” shaped holes, each said slot being orientated symmetrically oppositethe other said slot, each said slot being located adjacent, but outboardfrom a said “D” shaped hole, each said slot being located outside ofsaid CD recess, each said slot having an enlarged hooked aperture and anarrowed offset opening to the edge, said opening and said aperturebeing sized and shaped to attach to a card index rail, each said slotbeing located to mate said lower lid to a pair of card index rails; atab cantilevered radially outboard from said perimeter edge of saidupper lid, said tab having a first end and a second end, a dome-shapeddetent protruding from said first end and said second end of said tab; atab receiver being located in said lower lid outside of said CD recess,said tab receiver having two detent receptacles; a hinge; said upper lidbeing hingeably attached to said lower lid by said hinge; said upperlid, said hinge and said lower lid being fabricated from a single pieceof transparent material; and a CD retention cavity being defined whenthe upper surface of said upper lid being coplanar with the uppersurface of said lower lid.